Tips for the National Zoo
The final day of our D.C. cherry blossom tour was spent at the National Zoo. Here are some quick do's and don'ts for a first-time visit:
Do:
--Bring a camera with a good zoom lens. Those giant pandas are adorable, but they can perch far away. We had given our kids disposable cameras, but fortunately I had my zoom to capture the image on the right.
--Take the Metro to the Cleveland Park station on your way to the zoo. Though the Woodley Park station has "zoo" in its name, several guidebooks and the zoo's own Web site caution that it's an uphill climb north on Connecticut Avenue from that station. It's an easy, level walk from Cleveland Park of about three or four blocks.
--Get a pulled pork sandwich at the barbecue stand near the "Mane Restaurant." It beats the standard offerings.
--Go early and leave enough time for a good long visit. We arrived around the zoo's opening time and left at about 2:30 -- and we really could have stayed longer.
Now for a few don'ts...
Don't:
--Miss the reptile house. The selection of turtles and tortoises was amazing, and delighted my reptile-loving son. They range from the tiny to the humongous. And then there was the anaconda, shedding its skin before our eyes...
--Tap on the glass when you visit the apes. They're shy, a helpful sign told us. In fact, they might interact better with you if you look at them over your shoulder.
--Forget to stop for play time. The "pizza playground" is a bit hidden in the kids' farm area, but you must find it, especially if your kids are preschoolers or toddlers. The highlight is a giant soft "pizza" the kids can jump and play on, with displays that connect the farm to the vegetables on the pizza. There's another fun play area behind the prairie dogs.
--Miss the discount at the gift shop for Maryland Zoo members. You can get 10 percent off your purchase if you show your membership card.
--Rush your exit. That climb uphill to the front entrance is a killer if you've already used up all your energy or have to hurry. Save some exhibits to visit on your way back up to pace yourself, or leave time to rest on the benches on the way.
(Photos by me)
Comments
I suggest when you get there to walk all the way to the back of the zoo and work your way towards the entrance (uphill) throughout the day. You will avoid crowds this way too since everyone usually starts at the exhibits by entrance.
Posted by: Julie | April 1, 2010 9:38 AM
Thanks for the tips! I was actually planning to go to the National Zoo for the first time in the coming weeks.
What type of camera/lens did you use at the zoo? Your photos look great!
Thanks! Actually I didn't have any super zoom....just a point-and-shoot Nikon Coolpix P5000. But it was good to have something, the way that zoo is set up. KS
Posted by: Stephen | April 8, 2010 2:11 PM